Log bundle aligner

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for aligning a bundle of logs having two vertical butting plates adapted to be moved toward each other when a bundle of logs held in the customary grappling means is placed upon a pusher plate between the butting plates, the pusher plate being actuated by the downward thrust of the bundle of logs and the grappling means, and by suitable connecting means to cause the butting plates to move toward each other, thus aligning the ends of the logs in substantially the same plane.

United States Patent Bulat et a].

[ Mar. 7, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS g gsg u.s.s.R. ..214/6 s U.S.S.R. .....2l4/6 S Great Britain ..2l4/6 S Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Spar Attorney-Sim & McBumey ABSTRACT Apparatus for aligning a bundle of logs having two vertical butting plates adapted to be moved toward each other when a bundle of logs held in the customary grappling means is placed upon a pusher plate between the butting plates, the pusher plate being actuated by the downward thrust of the bundle of logs and the grappling means, and by suitable connecting means to cause the butting plates to move toward each other, thus aligning the ends of the logs in substantially the same plane.

1 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 5 18 ao a PATENTEDMAR H912 3.647. 092

INVENTORS JOHN l. BULAT RUDOLPH JAUN LOG BUNDLE ALIGNER This invention relates to apparatus for aligning the ends of a bundle of logs prior to loading for shipment,-particularly by rail car.

In the past, logs have often been shipped on rail cars with the logs placed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rail car with no restraining means to prevent the logs from shifting transversely when travelling, thus projecting beyond the allowable load width of the car. A recent safety requirement of the railroads is that the logs must be placed in tiers on the car between side stakes so that the longitudinal axes of the logs lie in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the rail car. These tiers of logs are commonly built up by piling bundles of logs one on top of another. If the ends of the logs in each tier are not properly aligned, space in the rail car, which could otherwise be taken up with logs, will remain empty, thus increasing the cost of shipping.

it is the object of the present invention to align bundles of logs so that their ends will be substantially in the same plane in order that as many bundles as possible may be readily placed between the end bulkheads of the rail car.

The FIGURE represents a front elevation of our invention.

Our invention comprises in combination the usual grapple arms 1, of a type that is well known in the art, for grasping a bundle of logs 2 which at that time are in random alignment as shown in FIGURE 1. The grapple 1 bearing the bundle of logs 2 is then lowered onto pusher plate 3, which is connected by connecting rod 4 and crank 5 to drum 6 mounted on skids 7 by suitable brackets 8 and 9, which carry plates 10 and 11, supported respectively by braces 12, 13, and mounted on rollers 14, 15, 16 and 17, which are adapted to run on tracks 9.

As the bundle of logs 2, held in the grapple arms 1, is lowered onto the pusher plate 3, the connecting rod 4 and crank 5 will cause the drum 6 to rotate, thus drawing the cables l8, 19, running respectively over pulleys 20, 21, to pull the plates 14, 15, and their supporting brackets l2, 13, toward each other, thus aligning the ends of the logs in the bundle in substantially the same vertical plane.

As the bundle of logs 2 is lifted from the pusher plate 3, the release of weight will cause springs 22, 23 to restore plates 10, 11, and their supporting braces l2, 13, to their original position ready for the next succeeding bundle of logs, the original bundle 2, being removed by the grapple mechanism 1 for loading on the rail car.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for aligning the ends of a bundle of logs comprising grapple means for grasping the said bundle and placing it upon a pusher plate positioned between two butting plates, a rod connecting the pusher plate to a crank adapted by the weight of the grapple and the bundle of logs to rotate the said crank, cables positioned on the said crank and attached to the said butting plates, the said cables being actuated by the said crank to cause the butting plates to move toward each other to align the ends of the logs in substantially the same plane, and means actuated by the release of the weight of the grapple and the bundle of logs to restore the butting plates to their original position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIGN Patent No. 3,6u7,o92 Dated March 7, 1972 lnventofls) John Ivan Bulat, et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

In' the heading, {72] the Inventor's name "Rudolph Juan" should read Rudolph Jaun Signed and seal this 2 4th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT ao'rrscmmc Attesting Officer t Commissioner of Patents FORM P uscoMM-oc 60876-P69 US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-356-334. 

1. Apparatus for aligning the ends of a bundle of logs comprising grapple meanS for grasping the said bundle and placing it upon a pusher plate positioned between two butting plates, a rod connecting the pusher plate to a crank adapted by the weight of the grapple and the bundle of logs to rotate the said crank, cables positioned on the said crank and attached to the said butting plates, the said cables being actuated by the said crank to cause the butting plates to move toward each other to align the ends of the logs in substantially the same plane, and means actuated by the release of the weight of the grapple and the bundle of logs to restore the butting plates to their original position. 